Apparatus and method for felling trees

ABSTRACT

A chain saw mounted on and running around a transversely wedgeshaped cutter bar, in cutting and noncutting said cutter bar being directly hinged to a second hollow bar or anvil, and operable by a hydraulic cylinder mounted therein and operably attached therebetween to open and close in cooperation with the cutter bar and chain saw as a pair of scissors, said hollow anvil bar being opposed to the narrow edge of the transversely wedged cutter bar, and receiving therein said narrow edge and the cutting run of the chain saw, the noncutting run being recessed into the broad edge of said cutter bar.

United States Patent Alva Z. Albright Port Barre, La. ((P.0. Box 762Woodstock, Ontario, Canada [21] Appl.No. 766,032

[22] Filed Oct. 3, 1968 [45] Patented Feb. 23, 1971 [72] Inventor [54]APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FELLING TREES 3,140,736 7/1964 Propst 144/3(.4)3,364,964 1/1968 Lacey 144/34 FOREIGN PATENTS 142,106 3/1961 U.S.S.R143/32(.34)

Primary Examiner-Donald R. Schran Attorney-James B. Lake, Jr.

ABSTRACT: A chain saw mounted on and running around a transverselywedge-shaped cutter bar, in cutting and noncutting. said cutter barbeing directly hinged to a second hollow bar or anvil, and operable by ahydraulic cylinder mounted therein and operably attached therebetween toopen and close in cooperation with the cutter bar and chain saw as apair of scissors, said hollow anvil bar being opposed to the narrow edgeof the transversely wedged cutter bar, and receiving therein said narrowedge and the cutting run of the chain saw, the noncutting run beingrecessed into the broad edge of said cutter bar.

PATENIEUFEBMIQH 3,565,138

FIG.'I.

FIG. 2.

INVENTOR. ALVA z. ALBRIGHT ATTO NEYS l APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FELLINGTREES The invention relates generally to saws and more particularly to achain saw with transversely wedge-shaped cutter bar and arranged with anadditional element hinged therewith in scissors conformation.

It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus and method formore rapidly felling trees up to about a 36" diameter and to accuratelyfell them in a predetermined direction.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus forprotecting thechain saw from damage by the falling tree.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus and methodfor using the tree tobefelled for orienting the apparatus therewith toprevent binding'of the saw in the cut.

Another object of .the invention is to provide a guard for all but thecutting run of the saw chain.

Other objects and an understanding'of the invention can be had byreferring to the following description and claims and the drawings inwhich: v

FIG. 1 is a perspective of the invention with scissor parts open, I

22 of FIG. 1 showing the wedge shape,

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the invention with the scissor parts closed, i2

FIG. 4 is a partial cross section of the scissors bar along sectionlines 4-4 of FIG. 3, and o FIG. 5 is a partial elevational view ofdriving means for the chain saw. 1 f I Referring to FIG. 1, theinvention comprises a chain saw of standard design arrangedto rotate.around a transversely tapered wedge-shaped cutter bar- 12, driven by anstandard type of driving means, preferably an hydraulic motor and chainsprocket. A second bar or anvil 16 is pivotedwith a trunnion 17 to thebase 18 of the wedged center bar 12 so that the narrow edge 20 of thewedged cutter bar 12 is opposite the inner edge 22 of the second bar oranvil 1:6. The arrangement is similar to that of the blades of a pair ofscissors 'with the opening and closing of the bars 12 and 16 controlledby a hydraulic cylinder 26 mounted on the second bar 16 and operativelyconnected to a projecting flange 28 of the cutter bar 12. In use the twobars open around the pivot trunnion 17. A tree to be cut is engagedbetwee'nthe two bars as they are closed around it by actuatingthe'hydraulic cylinder 26. The movement of the chain saw 10 around thecutter bar 12 cuts into the tree and the force of the hydraulic cylinder26 closing the bars forces the wedged cutter bar 12 into the cut made bythe chain saw and tips the tree in the direction of the wedge and fallwhen the cutting has been completed.

The action of the anvil 16 in engaging a tree trunk keeps the chain saw10 and cutter blade 12 i n.the' same relative position to the tree andthus facilitates the cutting by preventing it from binding in the cut.The anvil 16 is double edged on the tree engaging side with a hollow 34defined between said edges to receive the cutting run 35 of the chainsaw 10 and the engaging portion of the wedged cutter bar 12. Of thedouble edges, the highest edge 36 acts as a pivot support for thefalling tree and a protecting cover for the chain saw and the lower edge38 digs into what will be the stump of. the, felled tree .to providesupport and orientation for the apparatus.

A safety feature is provided by a deep channel 41 defined in the thickedge of the tapered bar 12 which receives the back FIG. 2 is a crosssection of the cutter-bar along section line run 42 of the chain saw 10so that it is completely hidden and une'ngageable in the channel.

The apparatus is used mounted on a small tractor or other power train(not shown) that provides hydraulic takeoff. To operate, the apparatusmounted in its power train is wheeled up to a tree to be felled which isengaged between the pivotedapart cutter and second bars. The chain sawis actuated by means of its hydraulic motor and drive and the hydrauliccylinder is activated to close the bars around the tree. As the chainsaw in its cutting run cuts into the tree the hydraulic cylinder biasesthe cutter bar and anvil to close thereby forcing the transverselywedged cutter bar into the deepening saw cut and tigping the tree moreand more in the direction of the cutting w ich should be the desireddirection of fall. Also the closing action binds the apparatus to thetree in an unvariable cutting plane to prevent all binding of the cutterbar and saw chain in the cut. Usually the last bit of the tree breaksoff before being out As the tree falls the cutting run of the saw chainand the narrow edge of the cutter baris received into the channeldefined in the anvil and is protected from being damaged by the fallingtree. The apparatus is then backed away from the felled tree, the towbars opened and the apparatus advanced in the direction of desired fallto the next tree to be felled.

Although the invention has been described with a certain degree ofparticularity it should be understood it is only by way of example andthat changes can. be made in the arrangernent and composition of partswithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention ashereinafter claimed.

Iclaim:

1. An improved treecutting apparatus comprising in combination: a chainsaw having a cutter bar with a projecting flange adjacent one end thereof, and a saw chain peripherally mounted for rotation around said cutterbar in cutting and noncutting runs, the edge of said cutter bar adjacentsaid noncutting run defining a recess for receiving said latter runtherein for preventing a cut and falling tree from stripping the sawchain off the cutter bar and also to prevent said latter run fromengaging adjacent objects; a hollow anvil directly pivoted by an end tosaid cutter bar adjacent its flanged end for scissors action therewith,said hollow anvil having parallel inner edges opposing the cutter barand an oppositely disposed closed back, said inner edges receiving thecutting run and adjacent edge of the cutter bar for shielding them froma cut and falling tree; driving means mounted on said cutter bar behindthe pivot with the anvil to remove it from range of tree damage and fordriving the saw chain; reciprocating power means pivotally mounted insaid hollow anvil for protection from a cut and falling tree, andpivotally connected with said projecting flange to pivot the chain sawand the anvil in scissors action for engagingand cutting a treetherebetween, whereby both runs of saw chain, the reciprocating powermeans and the driving means are prevented from becoming casualties oftheir operating results.

2. An improved tree cutting apparatus as described in claim 1 whereinthe parallel inner edges of said hollow anvil opposing the cutting runof said saw chain are sharpened to bite into a tree engaged for cuttingto prevent any movement of the apparatus up the tapered tree trunk tothereby bind the chain saw in its cut.

1. An improved tree cutting apparatus comprising in combination: a chainsaw having a cutter bar with a projecting flange adjacent one end thereof, and a saw chain peripherally mounted for rotation around said cutterbar in cutting and noncutting runs, the edge of said cutter bar adjacentsaid noncutting run defining a recess for receiving said latter runtherein for preventing a cut and falling tree from stripping the sawchain off the cutter bar and also to prevent said latter run fromengaging adjacent objects; a hollow anvil directly pivoted by an end tosaid cutter bar adjacent its flanged end for scissors action therewith,said hollow anvil having parallel inner edges opposing the cutter barand an oppositely disposed closed back, said inner edges receiving thecutting run and adjacent edge of the cutter bar for shielding them froma cut and falling tree; driving means mounted on said cutter bar behindthe pivot with the anvil to remove it from range of tree damage and fordriving the saw chain; reciprocating power means pivotally mounted insaid hollow anvil for protection from a cut and falling tree, andpivotally connected with said projecting flange to pivot the chain sawand the anvil in scissors action for engaging and cutting a treetherebetween, whereby both runs of saw chain, the reciprocating powermeans and the driving means are prevented from becoming casualties oftheir operating results.
 2. An improved tree cutting apparatus asdescribed in claim 1 wherein the parallel inner edges of said hollowanvil opposing the cutting run of said saw chain are sharpened to biteinto a tree engaged for cutting to prevent any movement of the apparatusup the tapered tree trunk to thereby bind the chain saw in its cut.